1. LT TIME: Nothing quite brings out the goodness, er, greatness in LaDainian Tomlinson like three hours or so in the company of the Raiders. The first time he played Oakland last year, Tomlinson ran for 198 yards and four touchdowns on just 24 carries, and in 14 games overall he's rushed for 1,709 yards and 16 scores against the Raiders. The mere prospect of another game against Oakland should make that toe feel much better.

2. BABYING THE QB: By all logic, the Raiders will want to continue protecting second-year quarterback JaMarcus Russell from himself and keep his passes away from the Chargers, who've posted five interceptions in their past three games with Oakland and picked off three passes against the Jets on Monday. By limiting the number of throws by Russell, though, that also would make it easier for the Chargers to focus more on stopping the Raiders' real offensive threat, Darren McFadden, who's also working with a bad toe.

3. CHARGER BACKERS: As some consolation to the Chargers for losing Shawne Merriman for the season, there were many references to the stunning game (three sacks, one touchdown) played last year at Oakland by Merriman's replacement, Jyles Tucker. Now a full-time starter in Merriman's absence, Tucker recorded two sacks Monday night. The Chargers' other outside linebacker, Shaun Phillips, has 5-½ sacks to show for his past four games against Oakland.

4. NICK OF TIME: As it happens, it was against the Raiders last October that Chargers center Nick Hardwick first injured his foot, which led to surgery and has kept him unavailable throughout camp, the preseason and the first three games. With the return of Marcus McNeill on Monday night and Hardwick's return, the Chargers finally have their A-team quintet intact on the offensive line. That should make life better for both Philip Rivers and Tomlinson.

5. LIFE IN THE AXED LANE: The way things have been going in Oakland, don't be surprised if Lane Kiffin starts the game as the Raiders head coach and finds out he's been fired in the locker room at halftime, if not just stripped of his commission on the sideline in the first half. The Coliseum has become a “Black Hole,” all right. For head coaches of the “Silver & Black-Eye.”